A Georgia man will not be prosecuted for yelling at a bus driver in front of students.
Georgia’s highest court ruled that a law prohibiting insulting or verbally abusing a public school employee in front of students is unconstitutional.
Michael Antonio West was charged in early 2015 under a law that makes it a crime to insult or abuse a public school teacher, administrator or bus driver in front of students at school or on a bus.
The high court decision reversed a lower court’s refusal to throw out charges against West.
West confronted a bus driver because he was upset about his two elementary school children being bullied on the bus.
During the confrontation, the bus driver threatened to have West fined and to call police, and West said he would report the bus driver for cruelty to children. The videotaped confrontation showed neither West nor the bus driver used profanity.
West’s lawyer took his objection to the charge under the First Amendment to the Glynn County State Court. The objection was denied, but the judge gave permission to make an immediate appeal to the Supreme Court.
The unanimous opinion issued Monday by the Georgia Supreme Court says the law is "unconstitutionally overbroad" and violates the First Amendment right to free speech.

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. —

A Georgia man will not be prosecuted for yelling at a bus driver in front of students.

Georgia’s highest court ruled that a law prohibiting insulting or verbally abusing a public school employee in front of students is unconstitutional.

Advertisement

Michael Antonio West was charged in early 2015 under a law that makes it a crime to insult or abuse a public school teacher, administrator or bus driver in front of students at school or on a bus.

The high court decision reversed a lower court’s refusal to throw out charges against West.

West confronted a bus driver because he was upset about his two elementary school children being bullied on the bus.

During the confrontation, the bus driver threatened to have West fined and to call police, and West said he would report the bus driver for cruelty to children. The videotaped confrontation showed neither West nor the bus driver used profanity.

West’s lawyer took his objection to the charge under the First Amendment to the Glynn County State Court. The objection was denied, but the judge gave permission to make an immediate appeal to the Supreme Court.

The unanimous opinion issued Monday by the Georgia Supreme Court says the law is "unconstitutionally overbroad" and violates the First Amendment right to free speech.